About the Editor: Robert Burchfield was the Chief Editor of the OED from 1971-84. He was a Senior Research Fellow of St Peter's College Oxford from 1979-90 and is now an Emeritus Fellow of the College. His distinguished lexicographical career has included a number of key publications: The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, 1966 (with C. T. Onions and G. W. S Friedrichsen), A Supplement to the OED, 1972-86 (with D. Donoghue and A. Timothy), The English Language, 1985, and The New Zealand Pocket Oxford Dictionary, 1986.